Ecodesign

ESSENCE OF THE DIRECTIVE OF EP AND COUNCIL 2009/125/WE

Constantly growing population and degree of industrialization of societies results in an increase of global demand of energy. Meeting the energy demand can be realized by increasing the extraction and exploration of new energy sources, however, the problem of emissions and global warming is forcing to look for other solutions. The best way is therefore the use of energy efficient technologies in order to increase energy efficiency.

The United Nations signing the Kyoto Protocol committed themselves to implement a series of solutions aimed to reduction of environmental pollution and energy consumption. To make this process possible, a number of market mechanisms and new regulations were implemented. For the Members of the European Union, on 21 October 2009 was adopted Directive of the European Parliament and Council 2009/125/WE, which established a framework for setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products, called The ErP Directive. It aims to increase energy efficiency by 20% and increasing the share of renewable energy sources to 20% in the EU by 2020.

The ErP Directive together with The LErP Directive formed the Ecodesign in Poland, which includes three main areas:

• product design (ErP),
• appropriate product identification by labels (LErP),
• obligation to share product specifications (ErP).

Regulation of EU Commission no. 1253/2014

In the case of implementation of The ErP Directive, the EU Commission Regulation no. 1253/2014 concerning the ecodesign of ventilation systems were introduced among other things. It shall apply from 1 January 2016, while from 1 January 2018 its requirements will be tightened. This means that all ventilation systems manufactured and sold in the area of European Union and subjected to the Regulation have to meet its requirements.

Scope of application

The Directive applies to ventilation systems (VS), in which the power consumption by fans exceeds 30W. Through the ventilation system is meant "the electrically driven device with at least one rotor, a motor and a casing designed for air exchange...". The regulation does NOT apply to:

• ventilation systems with lower power consumption than 30 W for the air stream (these devices are, however, obliged to share technical data),
• fans equipped only with casing (EU no. 327/2011),
• fans intended to work with air at a temperature greater than 100°C, or ambient temperatures above -40°C and +65°C, wherein the fan is not in the stream of air. Supply voltage exceeding 1000V for AC and 1500V for DC,
• fans designed to work in EX zone, in toxic environment, inflammable, strongly corrosive or in emergency situations,
• kitchen hoods.

Types of ventilation systems

The Regulation specifies the types of ventilation systems due to the application area: designed to use in residential buildings (VSR) or non-residential  buildings (VSNR). Classification occurs due to the nominal efficiency of the ventilation system:

• ventilation systems designed for residential buildings (VSR)
  • max. air flow up to 250 m³/h;
  • or air flow from 250 to 1000 m³/h with declaration of manufacturer, that system is designed for residential buildings;
  • ventilation systems designed for non-residential buildings (VSNR)
    • air flow above 1000 m³/h;
    • or air flow from 250 to 1000 m³/h without declaration of manufacturer, that system is designed for residential buildings.

Furthermore, systems are distinguished depending on the direction of air flow:

• one-way ventilation system (OWVS) forcing the air flow only in one direction, either outside (air exhaust) or inside the room (air supply),
• two-way (remove-supply) ventilation system (TWVS)forcing the air flow between the building and environment, equipped both in exhaust and supply fans, e.g. OXeN ventilation units.

Depending on the purpose and the type of ventilation system The Regulation defines for ventilation systems other requirements.

Specific requirements of ecodesign for two-way ventilation systems designed for non-residential buildings.

All of the two-way ventilation systems (TWVS) for non-residential buildings (VSNR) from 1 January 2016 must meet the following functional requirements of ecodesign:

• must be equipped with a multiple speed drive (at least 3 different speeds + zero state) or system of stepless fan speed control, e.g. built-in or external electronic control system (except for systems for dual use)
• must be equipped with heat recovery system (the recirculation is not considered as heat recovery)
• every heat recovery system must have a thermal bypass of recovery (by-pass or the ability to stop the rotary heat exchanger)
• for heat recovery systems without indirect medium minimum efficiency  of heat recovery must be at least 67% (from 1 January 2018 at least 73%).

The Regulation defines the calculation conditions for efficiency determination:

• balanced air streams (in case of absence of balance, the efficiency of both streams and the supply air stream must be determined),
• temperature difference between the inlet and outlet air of ΔT=20K,
• calculations for dry air (condendation is not included),
• maximum internal power of fan of ventilation sections JMWint_limit. To determine JMWint you should use the configuration of a standard two-way ventilation system which takes into account:
  • casing of device,
  • minimum 1 supply fan i 1 exhaust fan,
  • heat recovery system that meets the requirement of the minimum efficiency of recovery,
  • F7 filter for supply air and M5 for exhaust air (in case of absence of these filters, you must use the appropriate correction factors)
  • additional components of the ventilation system, such as an evaporator, a condenser, a humidifier, heater, silencer are not covered by the Regulation and is not required to take into account their presence.

• From 1 January 2018 in configurations with the filter: a visual indication or an alarm in the control system after exceeding the allowable pressure drop.

Summary

In order to protect the environment through the increase of energy efficiency of devices from 1 January 2016 in the Members of the EU, The Regulation concerning ecodesign of ventilation systems for the implementation of The ErP Directive came into force. It imposed on the manufacturers a number of obligations relating to devices marketed in the European Union. Specific requirements of ecodesign define the need of solutions directly affecting on reduction of energy consumption: multi-step or stepless air flow control systems, by-pass systems of heat recovery, system signalling filter clogging. In addition, it defines the minimum requirements for the technical parameters such as minimum heat recovery efficiency (calculated for specific boundary conditions) and the maximum power unit.